cosset

English

Etymology

Perhaps from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English cotsæta (“cottager”), from cot (“cottage”) (Modern English cot (“cottage”) (archaic)) + -sæta (“-sitter”); compare coscet. Compare German Hauslamm (literally “house lamb”), Italian casiccio.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈkɒsɪt/

Verb

cosset (third-person singular simple present cossets, present participle cosseting or cossetting, simple past and past participle cosseted or cossetted)

1. (transitive) To treat like a pet; to overly indulge. [from 1650s]

   The car cossets its occupants in comfort.

2. (transitive) To fondle; to touch or stroke lovingly.

   The foam cossets your skin.

Derived terms

• cosseted
• cosseting

Translations

to treat like a pet

• Bulgarian: галя (bg) (galja)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 宠爱 (zh) (chǒng ài)

• Dutch: verwennen (nl), vertroetelen (nl)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: gâter (fr), chouchouter (fr) ,dorloter (fr), choyer (fr)
• German: verhätscheln (de), verwöhnen (de)
• Italian: coccolare (it)

Painting by Rudolf Epp showing children with a pet lamb or cosset.

Noun

cosset (plural cossets)

1. A pet, especially a pet lamb. [from 1570s]
2. Someone indulged or cosseted. [from 1590s]

See also

• cub
• kid
• fawn
• kitten

Anagrams

• Costes, cosets, scotes